Jayne Brumley Ikard Obituary

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jayne Brumley Ikard, one of Newsweek magazine's first female bureau chiefs and prominent Washington hostess, has died. She was 83.

Ikard died Friday from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Washington, according to her son, Bryan Brumley, a former Associated Press bureau chief.

Born Mary Jane Keegan, Ikard changed her name to Jayne because she liked how it looked. She studied journalism at Boston University, and in 1951 married Calvin Brumley, whom she met at the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.

The couple followed Calvin Brumley's career to Denver, New York, Jacksonville, Fla., and Boston, where Ikard wrote a column for the Boston Herald. In 1964, she became head of Newsweek's Boston bureau, where she covered national political stories, including Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign and funeral and the aftermath of Chappaquiddick and Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Ikard was appointed director of public relations for t he newly created President's Council on Environmental Quality in 1969 and after her husband's death in 1972, she wrote in a Saturday Evening Post story that she was determined "to become the best informed female international environmentalist."

She met former U.S. Rep. Frank Ikard during a trip to Stockholm for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The president of the American Petroleum Institute was also in town for the conference and the night after they were introduced, the couple flew to Copenhagen for dinner on a whim.

"We talked and we talked and we talked, with me acting as though I'd taken some kind of truth serum," Jayne Ikard later wrote. "I even told him my age, my correct age, before the first course."

They were married weeks later in Austin, Texas. The couple lived in Washington until Frank Ikard's death in 1991, hosting many events at their Kalorama home with a mix of politicians, diplomats and journalists.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jayne Brumley Ikard, one of Newsweek magazine's first female bureau chiefs and prominent Washington hostess, has died. She was 83.

Ikard died Friday from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Washington, according to her son, Bryan Brumley, a former Associated Press bureau chief.

Born Mary Jane Keegan, Ikard changed her name to Jayne because she liked how it looked. She studied journalism at Boston University, and in 1951 married Calvin Brumley, whom she met at the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.

The couple followed Calvin Brumley's career to Denver, New York, Jacksonville, Fla., and Boston, where Ikard wrote a column for the Boston Herald. In 1964, she became head of Newsweek's Boston bureau, where she covered national political stories, including Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign and funeral and the aftermath of Chappaquiddick and Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Ikard was appointed director of public relations for t he newly created President's Council on Environmental Quality in 1969 and after her husband's death in 1972, she wrote in a Saturday Evening Post story that she was determined "to become the best informed female international environmentalist."

She met former U.S. Rep. Frank Ikard during a trip to Stockholm for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. The president of the American Petroleum Institute was also in town for the conference and the night after they were introduced, the couple flew to Copenhagen for dinner on a whim.

"We talked and we talked and we talked, with me acting as though I'd taken some kind of truth serum," Jayne Ikard later wrote. "I even told him my age, my correct age, before the first course."

They were married weeks later in Austin, Texas. The couple lived in Washington until Frank Ikard's death in 1991, hosting many events at their Kalorama home with a mix of politicians, diplomats and journalists.

Guest Book Highlights

"My deepest sympathy is extended to the Ikard family in the passing of my dear Mrs. Ikard. Our association began with her calling the Hearst Newspapers, Washington Bureau where I was employed. I found Mrs. Ikard to be a warm and caring individual..."- Michael Young (Washington, DC)

"To the Ikard Family: I just learned of Mrs Ikard's passing and wanted to send my condolences. For many years, I was in charge of the parties the Ikards gave in their Kalorama home. I was also invited to their beautiful home in Martha's Vineyard and..."- Mike Davis (Vienna, VA)

"Please accept my sincere condolences. You don't have to know the person or the family to know the pain that people feel when they lose someone in death because somewhere down the road, we have all been there. In the meantime, though, we can be..."- KAN (MD)

"Jayne was a loyal friend and cared so much about our country and good government. She was kind to those of us coming along in public service and included me in a number of her wonderful dinner parties. We had many a lunch with good laughs over the..."- Melody Miller (Washington, DC)

"May the God of all comfort who see your tears and pain of heart give you the needed strength to endure. For He is with those who are crushed at heart,and those crushed in spirit He saves."- Reed Family